After twelve years as The Crucible’s founder and executive director I have moved on in search of new creative challenges and opportunities. Pioneering an arts education nonprofit to become the largest public industrial arts facility in the country facilitated my growth as a designer, leader, administrator, manager and innovator. I leave my position with skills and knowledge far beyond my reputation as Oakland’s “fire guy.” I have been called upon to consult in fields as diverse as interior and industrial design, event production, fundraising and networking, community outreach, program development and project management. Moving forward I am seeking a position in one or all of these arenas where I can employ expertise and my creative problem solving abilities in concert with a team of dedicated individuals.
Founder of The Crucible: Non profit industrial arts education facility, gallery, and theater
January 1999 – January 2010 Founder / Executive Director
January 2010 – January 2011 Founder / Creative Director
• Conceived of, and founded The Crucible. Created its image, brand, and identity
• Raised over 8 million dollars from individuals and corporate sponsors
• Cultivated and maintained critical social, political, governmental and community relationships
• Designed educational & outreach programs that serve over 9,000 youth & adult students annually
• Pioneered, designed, directed, budgeted, fundraised, and produced interdisciplinary, collaborative performances such as Fire Operas and Ballets, cabarets, and the Annual Fire Arts Festival, working with over 400 performers and artists annually and serving over 25,000 yearly guests
• Designed two complete Crucible facilities with classrooms, work spaces, and a theater that maximize visitor flow and accessibility. Worked directly with architects, engineers and city zoning and building officials while project managing building contractors and suppliers
• Developed strategic vision while overseeing the creation and implementation of the marketing, public relations, and development plans
• Recruited, hired, trained, supervised, mentored, & evaluated 30 staff members, 80 faculty, & oversaw the management of 800 volunteers annually.
• Updated and reported directly to the board of directors monthly.
• Initiated, negotiated and led collaborative partnerships with multiple agencies on complex projects
• Built strong alliances with numerous city & state officials and agencies, civic leaders, organizations, and stakeholders inspiring them to work together
• Developed & oversaw the annual organizational budget of $3 million, as well as program, event & project budgets; maintained spending on budget.
• Cultivated supportive contacts with local and national television, radio, magazine and web media
• Acted as the principal public and media spokesperson and promoter
• Solicited, quoted and managed commissioned projects and an entrepreneurial product line
2005 – current Micheal Sturtz Consulting: Organizational & program development, facility design, user experience design
• Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust Nairobi, Kenya
• The Learning Connexion Ltd Wellington, New Zealand
• Palos Talleres de Arte Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• The Gasyard Development Trust Derry, Northern Ireland
• LOCS (Literacy Ontario – Central South) Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
• RepairPal Car Care Confidence: Emeryville, California
• Mayor’s Office City of Everett Everett, Washington State
• Tek.Venture Incorporated Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Fallbrook School for the Arts Fallbrook, California
• Nimbus Arts St. Helena, California
• Project Knew Grove Half Moon Bay, California
1994 – current VOLTAGE METAL WORKS: Owner, Consultant, designer and fabricator
• Architectural works in metal, wood, glass & etc. work for a variety of clients, architects and engineers
• Custom lighting, ornamental ironwork, furniture, hardware, automotive accessories and other items
1992 – current Teaching Positions: Instructed welding, metal fabrication, blacksmithing, metal foundry casting, glass casting, ceramic sculpture, woodworking and stone carving to youth and adults
• California College of Arts Oakland, California
• U.C. Berkeley Berkeley, California
• Bay Area Discovery Museum Sausalito, California
• The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• The Evanston Art Center Evanston, Illinois
• Ox-Bow Summer Program Saugatuck, Michigan
• Studio Art Centers International Florence, Italy
• Studio One Art Center Oakland, California
• The Crucible Oakland, California
• Civic Arts Center Walnut Creek, California
• Mendocino Art Center Mendocino, California
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, Oakland, California
1989 – 1999 Professional Sculptor: (For full listing, see Artist Resume)
• Sculptures address both concept and form through intriguing kinetic machines and strong material contrasts that often include mixtures of stone, cast and fabricated metals, glass, kinetics, light, fire, liquid, and video
• Exhibited in numerous group & solos shows nationally and internationally, and a retrospective exhibition
• Works in museums, national and international permanent collections
• Presented a wide variety of lectures, workshops and classes
• Received numerous commissions, jury awards, honors and sponsorships
• Received critical acclaim and numerous press and media coverage
1989 – 1990 KID Group LLC: Product Design for 1 of the top 10 invention groups with over 250 licensed products
• Created product prototypes for a variety of products, including toys to food packaging, and health care products to personal electronics
Education:
2010 LeaderSpring Fellowship, 2 year leadership program for nonprofit executive directors
1998 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL M.F.A.
1994 New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University Alfred, NY B.F.A. Magna Cum Laude
1992 Studio de Sem Ghelardini, Pietrasanta, Italy – Honors Artist in Residence Program
1990 Pitzer College Claremont Colleges: Claremont, CA